Envelop-sealer.



I. I. IVICDADE.

ENVELOP SEALER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I7, I9I2.

Llyga Patcnted Mar. 21, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A IINISSES I.\\ ENTUR 1.1. MCDADE.

ENVELOP SEMERA APPLlcATxoN FILED SEPT. 11, 1912.

JOHN J'. McDADE, OF SAN ENRANCISI'JO,I CALIFORNIA..

ENvELoP-SEALER.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN J. MCDADE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco and Stateof California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop- Sealers, of which the following is a speciication. O

The invention relates to a device for moistening and sealing envelops;

The object of the invention is to provlde a machine which operates to select an envelop from a stack, moisten the flap and press the flap against the body of the envelop to seal the same.

Another object'of the invention 1s to provide a simple, durable device which is simple and rapid in operation, and whichv completely and effectively seals the envelop.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, which, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in full that form ofthe invention which I have selected for illustration in the accompanying draw- Ieferring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the means for operating the selecting mechanism. Fig. '3 is a fragmentary cross section of the apparatus showing the selector engaging the flap of an envelop.

The apparatus consists of a suitable frame 2 composed of vertical and horizontal members, upon which is arranged an inclined table 3 upon which the lled envelops are arranged. The table is provided with standing sides 4 and a lip 5 at the lower end against which the envelops are pressed and held in an upright position by a roller 6 or other suitable pressing means. The envelops 7 are arranged on the table' 3 with the flap ends upward, and with the flaps 8 toward the lower side of the table. The lip 5 is if such height that it does not contact with the flaps 8, allowing the Hap on the leading envelop to project slightly therefrom.

Arranged adj accnt the lip 5 is a vertically movable selector 9 which in its upward movement engages under the flap of the leading envelop, lifting it from the table 3 and conveying it to the pressure rollers 11-12 which are preferably made of soft rubber. The selector 9 consists of a recep- Specication of Letters Patent. A Application led September 17, 1912. Serial No. 720,717.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

the fabric 15 is maintained in a molst condil tion by capillary attraction. As the selector 9 engages the envelop, the ap thereof contacts with the moistened fabric 15, moisten ing the gum thereon, so that the envelop is readily sealed when the Hap isy pressed against the body.

The movement of the selector is produced by the cams 18 arranged on the drive shaft 19 mounted on the bed or frame of the apparatus. The shaft 19 is operated by the shaft 21 through the worm 22 and worm wheel 23, which shaft 21 may be driven by, any suitable means, such as an electric motor. Straddling the shaft 19 are bifurcated links 24 provided with rollers 25 engaging the surfaces of the cams. The links are pivoted at their upper ends to the levers 26 on which the selector is supported. The cams 18 are designed to cause the raising and lowering of the selector, and are provided with concentric portions which cause the selector to be held stationary for a short time in its upper and lower positions.

The pressure rollers 11-12 are mounted in the frame 2 and are held pressed together by the coiled springs 27 engaging their respective shafts. rIhe roller- 12 is mounted in slots in the frame, so that it is movable away from roller 11 under the influence of a thick envelop. Mounted on the shafts of the rollers are gears 28--29, which cause the rollers to travel at equal speeds in opposite directions. The rollers are driven from the shaft 19 through the medium of the gears 31-32 and the chain 33.

The shaft of roller 11 is elevated a slight distance above the shaft of roller 12, so that the envelops in passing between the' rollers are given a slight forward inclination which causes them to fall forward over roller 12, when 'they are released. In order to insure this forward fall of the envelops, a guide plate 34 is arranged' above the rollers, which operates to prevent them falling backward.

Suspended from the frame 2 in the path of the sloping side 13 is a loosely hung roller 35. As the selector moves upward, tlns roller 35 bears against the liap of the envelop, pressing it against themoistening pad, and thereby insuring the proper moistening of the gum. At the upper end of its travel, the edge of the selector enters between the rollers below their line of contact, thereby positively inserting the leading edge of the envelop between the rollers.V The selector remains in this position until the rollers have advanced the envelop sufficiently to yremore the flap from contact with the selector. As the envelop is drawn through vthe rollers, the flap is lagain moved over the moistening pad, insuring the moistening thereof.

Arranged adjacent roller 12, and supported by the frame 2, is an inclined table 36 upon which the envelops drop as they are released from the rollers. vFrom this table the envelops are discharged into a hopper or bin 37 having an inclined bottom 38, which causes the envelops to side up. l

The envelops turn over after they pass lie with the address through the rollers 11 and 12 and 'fall into the hopper, with the flap end lowermost, and the address side toward the front wall of the hopper. The inclined bottom prevents the lower edge of theenvelop from moving inward and causes it to slide forward, and the envelop 4falls against the bottom with the address side up. l

I claim:

1. In an envelop sealing machine, a verti vcally movable selector plate adaptedv to en-l gage under the flap of the envelop, a. moistening device on the selector plate, a pair of contacting presser rolls arranged above Said selector plate and adapted to remove the envelop therefrom, the plane of the axes'of the rolls being inclined to the horizontal, and a guide arranged above the higher roll adaptedut'o cause the envelop to fallover the lower ro 1 l Intestimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 11th day of September 1912.

JOHN JJ MCDADE. In presence of-A M. L. CoNfrE',

H, G. Pnosr. 

